Big Ten Power Poll: Where Do The Hawkeyes Stack Up?

The Big Ten landscape for the 2026-27 college basketball season is taking shape, and the Iowa Hawkeyes face a steep climb. Following the NBA draft withdrawal deadline and the bulk of transfer portal movement, a new conference power poll ranks Iowa at No. 13. The pressure is now on head coach Ben McCollum to prove his system works without his star point guard, while teams like Illinois rely on retention to lead the league.

How Does The Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball Team Rank In The Big Ten?

Iowa checks in at No. 13 in the early Big Ten power poll. The Hawkeyes are entering a transition phase after relying heavily on guard Bennett Stirtz. McCollum won at Division II Northwest Missouri State without Stirtz, but his Division I success at Drake and Iowa was firmly rooted in Stirtz running the point.

Now, McCollum must demonstrate his coaching chops to keep a relatively star-less Iowa roster out of the Big Ten basement. In a conference where roster continuity and smart portal additions are king, the Hawkeyes will have to outwork their opponents night in and night out.

Which Big Ten Teams Lead The 2026-27 Power Poll?

Illinois sits at the top of the poll, and they earned that spot by valuing retention over flashy portal spending. General manager Neel Ganta said retention could be the Illini's